Yet it gives me great hope that the vast majority of suicide attempt survivors remain just that survivors. He might also have refused to remove the gun from the home, too. I often want to jump off the bridge by my apartment. The decision collapsed Rhodes sister's claim that her brother was murdered as cameraman Guzman should have been in a boat to pull her brother out of the water. It happens. Sadly, your post is being used by some commenters to justify the Golden Gate Bridge net boondoggle. So there are many, many more medications and medication combinations that he can try. Same with divorce. Im afraid to try again and it just adds for anger, desperation, loss of control over my own life and guilt for those in my life who have to worry. It is always wonderful to hear from someone who made it out to the other side. Rhodes was the 90th person to jump to their death from the bridge in its short 11 year history, but the first who wanted to survive. They lied about every imaginable factor of surviving in life. A little over four years ago I couldnt see an end to the emotional pain and despair I felt and became obsessed with thoughts of killing myself: another failed marriage, another lost job, another lost home, my girlfriend left me and just as we seemed to be getting back together died of a stroke. I worry almost everyday that Ill maim myself again and not die. . I hate when people invalidate another persons pain by suggesting a suicide attempt wasnt a sincere result of suffering. Rhodes, who also went by his native Navajo name Chief Sundown, was no stranger to danger. PART OF AUDACY NEWS. Too, people who attempt suicide may receive the help they need afterwards. I know how hard it is. God will come through for you but you have to make an attempt. If all else fails do something drastic. Missing person: The San Francisco Police Department is asking the public to report any information regarding 19-year-old Sydney West who was last seen on Sept. 30, 2020, at SF's Crissy Field. Many self harm injuries, stitches. What Dr. Seiden found is a remarkable testament to the fact that a suicidal crisis is often very often temporary. Wishing you peace, I am both, not realizing this until reading today My dad ended his life by his own hands , when I was 9. Sergeant Kevin Briggs (also known as the Guardian of the Golden Gate Bridge [1] [2]) is a California Highway Patrol officer noted for his work in suicide intervention, having dissuaded more than two hundred people from jumping off the Golden Gate Bridge into San Francisco Bay. If you havent already joined a support group for other suicide loss survivors, that might help you; such groups are available in person and online. I love the analogy with weight loss. Be blunt and honest dont sugar coat how you feel. Turns out, it was a recording of Sydney singing. Its a really simple concept. So in a couple days with no vehicle no money and no job, Im just supposed to trudge on, because life is precious or whatever other placating device people Banty about? For more information, click here. It is true that suicide sometimes defies even the best efforts to thwart it. As 6 months passes where we have not seen or heard fromSydney, it becomes increasingly painful, her parents, Jay and Kimberly West, said in a statement provided to SFGATE. We remain hopeful that someone knows something that will be helpful in finding her.. He published the results in an article titled Where Are They Now? If you really love someone, please open up to them, share your feelings and talk to someone, suicide will never be the solution to any problem but creating pain to your loved one. Copyright 2013-2023 Stacey Freedenthal. So they dont die, but continue miserable lives wishing for it to be over. Sydney West is from Chapel Hill, North Carolina, but also grew up in the Pleasanton area. Good luck to your friend, Julie, and thanks for commenting. I feel fortunate and very grateful that so many individuals take their time and devote energy to sharing what they have experienced in their lives-it is so difficult for most people to understand in its wholeness-the value of life ..the science of every day living and the extreme depth and mystery and solstice to human beings, but one way to start understanding why people: innocents commit suicide is to acknowlege the exact factors of why a healthy person would just turn off the switch to existence. I am sure your mum will be watching over you, so sad that she caused you so much pain, please seek help, you are precious, with love xxx. Since Sept. 30, there has been no activity on her phone or credit cards. Another possibility is that the instinct to live kicks in once someone comes close to dying. Healthcare sucks, Government sucks, Law Enforcement Sucks, the economy sucks, the housing market, job, market, and prospects suck, no body likes me, including myself, and I really dont like anyone else either. Rhodes press agent, Susan Todd, told reporters that Dusty had painstakingly calculated the speed of his fall, how he would hit the water and other details, as he did when he prepared for his movie stunts. Its complicated, Bay Area city cracks top 10 best for sleep: US News, JV talked about health struggles before disappearance, Martinez residents warned not to eat food grown in, Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. similar to cancer ads, etc. It's not hard to kill yourself at the Golden Gate bridge. But the cameras lost sight of her because of heavy fog, making it impossible to know what happened toher. She was a student at Donlon Elementary and Hart Middle schools and attended Foothill High School for her freshman and sophomore years. Your message here is a good one. Dec. 11, 2019 Updated: Dec. 12, 2019 8:06 a.m. 5. I wanted to distance myself from it as much as I could so that people would leave me alone. Has he tried cognitive behavior therapy? of the different medications. I would bet that most, if not all, had narcissistic mothers. Trackback URL SF]. People are stupid. Interviews with jump survivors and potential jumpers . But he didnt and will never know that what he had actually solved only his own problem- feeling/depression. In fact, Dusty told his friend to shoot from the bridge as it would be more dramatic, and besides, he would easily be able to swim to shore to a congratulatory, awestruck crowd of beach goers. The man who tried to find fame by jumping off the Golden Gate Bridge, Horoscope for Saturday, 3/04/23 by Christopher Renstrom, Snowboarder dies at Tahoe ski resort following historic blizzard, West I-80 closed near Tahoe due to snow and 'multiple spinouts', Wife of Jeffrey Vandergrift issues somber update, Even Salesforces tower HQ isnt safe from office cuts, Inside Harry and Meghans favorite In-N-Out, Horoscope for Friday, 3/03/23 by Christopher Renstrom, Massive Lake Tahoe waterfront compound slashes price by $20M, This beloved East Bay hybrid cafe and bike shop is closing, Ja Morant says he'll get help after video shows apparent gun. I pretended to have an awakening and successfully faked a born-again quality joy that warded off the idiotic, feeble attempts of others to help me. These findings are consistent with other studies that have looked at method substitution, which can occur when one suicide method is made unavailable and people substitute it with another. I am a 60+ year old woman with four grown kids and six grandkids and when the darkness set in I could no longer see the effect this would have had on their lives. She was last seen September 30, 2020, from the San Francisco area near the Golden Gate Bridge specifically around Crissy field. I am a survivor as well of rape and spousal abuse, Am feeling empowered today, thanks to you. It may help,, Kind Regards, The night before she disappeared (Sept. 29) she and her father Jay West had a lengthy phone conversation according to her family. In the midst of a struggle with mental illness, Hines got a running start . I love to see that in the Comments section; I find it beautiful when people can connect in this way and, even more, when someone can tell another person what they havent believed for themselves. The sad thing is that, as I say in my letter, some of what your friend thinks and believes may actually be true, but his mind is probably also shutting him out of other truths that could balance out his pain. We are going to keep looking.. A jump off the Golden Gate Bridge takes around four seconds, during which a person will reach a speed of 80 mphbefore smashing into the water's surface like concrete. West's parents are asking anyone who may have been. I hope that he is able to get effective help, both psychologically and pharmaceutically. Joshua Bote is the tech editor at SFGATE. Those two have shown some effectiveness at reducing suicidal ideation and behavior. Additionally, Hines takes medication and . In 2013, Briggs retired from the California Highway . This is a terribly hard process, and I hope that youre able to get help and support from others. As a teenager, I related so closely and had so many mixed emotions in comparing the results of my vs the characters attempts. On average, 30 people or more die from suicide here each year. . I just need time to tidy up affairs, belongings, finances, assemble the plan. West, 20, grew up in Pleasanton, Calif. She was a star volleyball player at Foothill High School and loved singing at open mic nights. Sydney West never returned home, and has not been heard from since. January 25, 2021 / 11:03 AM We dont like living in pain, and we look for ways of ending that pain and, being creatures of habit, we do it in old familiar ways because thats what we know. "There were many people in that vicinity during that time," said Mr. West. None of us can. Saving Lives at the Golden Gate Bridge. That's a mind-blowing statement. Of the 515 people whose attempt was interrupted, only 35 later died by suicide in the years to come. Where Are They Now? The persons reasons for dying may begin to fade. Maybe I didnt want to think he could actually do it. But what if you dont want help? He struck the water with his face. I wanted to talk with others in the same situation but I could understand how that may not be in the best interest of either party. and our It is wonderful that having children seems to have inoculated you against suicidal thoughts. Peace be with you Steven. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts. Although severe depression led him to jump off the bridge, Kevin Hines has stated: "The very second I let go, I knew I had made a big mistake." Lets get real here life sucks and its hard but dont give up. The most intuitive reason is that suicidal crises are, by their nature, temporary. My failure as a person was responsible for my extreme step. Youve been through an enormous amount. Her disappearance was every parents worst nightmare. We cannot overlook that 10% of people who survive a suicide attempt do go on to die by suicide. Life really sucked and so did I. I blamed myself for everything that was wrong and then some. Note: I wanted to make this post to hopefully create some sort of discussion around the case since it was almost a year and a half ago. Car plunges off California elevated highway, 3 people killed. Thats why I searched for answers and I found this site. Maybe some of the posts on this site could be helpful to him? I often think that if we are going to make up what we tell ourselves about our future, we might at least make it good. It certainly sounds like your friends antidepressants are not working. 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The chances of surviving are less than 1.5%, and almost zero if the feet don't hit first. suicide sometimes defies even the best efforts to thwart it, University of Denver Graduate School of Social Work, http://www.SpeakingOfSuicide.com/resources/#immediatehelp, If Only: Self-Blame After a Loved Ones Suicide, You Cant Do Everything: Limitations in Helping a Suicidal Person, a meta-analysis of numerous studies that looked at bridges suicide barriers, Generally, research into method substitution, 10 Things Not to Say to a Suicidal Person. Me and my childrens life broke into pieces and our life will never be the same. His passing causes lots of pain, sadness and changed others lives entirely. Now I dont know if I can fight it, but coping with failure and constant depression is impossible. What, Im supposed to carry on with the HOPE that things MIGHT get better. Thank you for sharing your thoughts. I did find this website and it has so much information that I needed to read. I died that day too. Both my son and I said we woud never consider it again, after that. The. Thank you. (findsydneywest.com) West was last seen on the morning of Sept. 30 on the iconic bridge. Dr. Freedenthal also is an associate professor at the University of Denver Graduate School of Social Work, and a psychotherapist and consultant in private practice. Learn how your comment data is processed. After the war, people were looking for entertainment in 1940's San Francisco, but TVs were not yet common in homes, public hangings were history and the 49ers hadnt joined the NFL yet. According to Find Sydney West, there is a $25,000 reward for information that leads to finding Syd, who is described as 5'10 tall and about 130 pounds with blue eyes and blonde hair. Part of Audacy. The family of Sydney West is offering a $25,000 reward for her return. Reach out to someone, anyone because I can tell you they have no idea how you feel. You note that installation of a suicide barrier at the Bloor Viaduct in Toronto merely caused people to go to other locations in Toronto to die by suicide. Perfectly so. News. Ive been hospitalized 4 times in the past 6 weeks, after my 9th suicide attempt. What happens to them afterward? Anyone with information about Sydneys whereabouts is asked to contact private investigator Scott Dudek by texting or calling 925-705-8328. Im about to be 22, medicated trying to live normal with constant suicidal thoughts. Not having the courage to fulfill my plan, I checked into treatment centers and each time I checked out I sank into suicidal depression again. Maybe in order to evade authorities who had refused permission to allow the jump legally 18 months earlier, he removed the weighted boots that were intended to keep him upright during the plunge. Hello Tony, so sorry for my belated response. Im recommending this because of your sense that you could have stopped the suicide from happening if you hadnt been so stupid, as you so painfully put it. Her family is not giving up hope that she is still alive and remains determined to find her. First published on January 25, 2021 / 11:03 AM. The Suicide Deterrent System, also known as the Safety Net, is being constructed to keep people from jumping off the Golden Gate Bridge. Her Disappearance: Sydney West was a 19-year-old freshman at U.C. I know you mean well, but I always feel I wished I never survived. There was a 44% increase in jumping suicides per year at nearby sites (95% CI 15% to 81%), but the net gain was a 28% reduction in all jumping suicides per year in the study cities (95% CI 13% to 40%).. The entire bridge in covered with CCTV cameras monitored 24/7, and footage is retained for 6 months as it is federal land and monitored by Homeland Security. Her father grew worried when she didnt call the next day the day she was last spotted in San Francisco. Look at life this way Instead of allowing a human being to be a target almost like a bomb dropping on ringed target Simply flip the idea of all the violence and fear over..Draw a Large Heart then several hearts within Make a plan for dreams and plans Stick to it .. And half of people who die by suicide had attempted suicide at least once previously. Anyone interested in following the investigation may do so on Facebook or Instagram, and tag posts with #FindSydneyWest. Notify me of follow-up comments by email. So when crazy people did crazy things in public places, excited crowds would gather. 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I am very sorry for your loss. An estimated 1,600 people have committed suicide by jumping off the Golden Gate Bridge, which has warnings but no barrier. West, 19, disappeared on a foggy San Francisco morning, around 6:45 a.m. to 7 a.m. Wednesday, Sept. 30 on the Golden Gate Bridge. Edit: FAQs https://findsydneywest.com/faq, https://www.pollyklaas.org/missing-children/sydney-west/, https://pleasantonweekly.com/news/2021/09/30/what-a-week-find-sydney-west, https://www.kron4.com/news/bay-area/searching-for-sydney-san-francisco-police-still-asking-for-publics-help/?fbclid=IwAR2uVE3anCjr5EvpUerTiD6JZxCAENR83-xIRz3TRzAfRuGckyYFzRqnobM, https://storiesoftheunsolved.com/2020/11/27/the-disappearance-of-sydney-west/. Im here. Sydney Kaitlyn West, 19, was last seen near the Golden Gate Bridge around 6:45 a.m. on September 30, 2020. He now works daily, and diligently, to manage continued symptoms that can include depression and hearing voices. Why Prevent Suicide? Praying for you. They would split the profits from the film 50/50. Leads continue to come in, her parents said. After all, they were intent on dying. In the 1970s, a researcher named Richard Seiden wanted to find out what happened to 515 people who came to the Golden Gate Bridge to die within the previous 35 years, but who were stopped by California Highway Patrol officers. My family lied to me about basically everything relevant and valuable in life. He had a gun in the house that he never used, was trying to sell, I didnt even think of it during this time. Found it was in part due to hormone imbalance along with sugar imbalances, throw in that its winter along with little sleep, emotional bombs going off and I had the perfect storm. I woke up on my own after my first attempt. I meant it, and I almost succeeded. I wish everyone could receive this gift, and I am grateful that you and others have done so! Precious few people survive such a fall; the water about 200 feet below acts the same as concrete when a person lands on it at high speed. West's parents are asking anyone who may have been commuting or exercising on the bridge to come forward with anything they may have seen. You also can find other places to get help by phone, email, chat, or text at http://www.SpeakingOfSuicide.com/resources/#immediatehelp. Come home.. The four-second fall from the Golden Gate Bridge sends a person plunging 245 feet (75 m) at 75 miles per hour (121 km/h) to . I am so glad my attempt did not end in my death. What happens is if you dont kill yourself you spend the rest of your life being told you didnt mean it. Have you found commonality in your suicidal patients? Her parents,Jay and Kimberly West,said their daughter liked visiting that bridge and would go to nearby Crissy Field to exercise. Millions of eyes are going to locate her better than 20 sets, Jay West said. She struggled with being so far away from her parents and sister, who reside in North Carolina. Its unfair. Thank you for sharing, Stacy. Wests parents said they have now hired a private investigator who is working with the San Francisco Police Department and Orange County (North Carolina) Sheriffs Department. Your battle won matters. Friends and family may rally to their side. Video footage from the bridge has been carefully reviewed by investigators but due to foggy and smoky conditions camera views where obstructed making it impossible to tell her exact location on the bridge. Im not sure that preventing suicide is such a noble act. While at Berkeley she joined the rowing team and showed a strong interest in medicine, business, and biological science. This case has always stuck with me because I am in my 20s and suffer from anxiety and depression. After graduating high school in 2019, she decided to take a gap year in Australia. I am not sure anybody really wants to die but I know many people, including myself, who are just sick and tired of living and want it to be over.